Bobbin magazine



J. H. NYDAM BOBBIN MAGAZINE March 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1964 INVENTOR.

JOHN H NYDAM.

ATTORNEY March 7, 1967 J. H. NYDAM BOBBIN MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1964 INVENTOR. JOHN H. NY'DHM.

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A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,307,341 BOBBIN MAGAZINE John H. Nydam, North Uxbridge,Mass., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed Mar. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 355,879 2 Claims. (CI. 5753) This invention pertains to a bobbin magazine and, more particularly, to that type of magazine utilized to feed empty filling bobbins to a combined donning and dotfing apparatus such as that shown and described in United States Patent No. 3,077,725.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a bobbin magazine capable of retaining a large number of oriented filling bobbins that will automatically provide and position said bobbins on the conveyor chain of the aforementioned apparatus donning mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bobbin magazine of sturdy and light weight construction which lends itself to easy handling and which can be easily assembled and locked in a positive manner on the donning and dofiing unit.

A further objectis that of providing a bobbin magazine that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is universal to all sizes of filling bobbins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobbin magazine that possesses features which simplify the loading of empty filling bobbins therein.

A still further object is to provide a bobbin magazine in which faulty bobbins can be visually detected and easily removed therefrom.

A further and more specific object is to provide a bobbin magazine that will accurately receive a plurality of empty filling bobbins therein and discharge the same therefrom as required without mispositioning them or creating a jamming condition that would prevent the magazine from receiving its full complement of bobbins or which would prevent their discharge at the required time.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

The instant invention pertains to an improved type of bobbin magazine adapted to be used with a combined donning and dofiing unit and one such magazine is shown and described in Application Serial No. 165,578 filed January 11, 1962, now US. Patent No. 3,159,961. That magazine, unlike that of the present invention, is of a box-like structure which completely encloses the plurality of bobbins carried thereby. The structure includes several vertically disposed and abutting bobbin butt retaining channels and spaced therefrom a means for controlling the bobbins adjacent their tips to guide and maintain them in vetrical alignment within the magazine. Magazines of this type are made in vairous sizes to accommodate different sizes of filling bobbins and like that of the instant invention are adapted to be indexed along a loading frame, where, by a means which forms no part of the instant invention, an automatic bob'bin loader orients and feeds a predetermined number of empty filling bobbins thereinto. The loading of bobbins in the type of magazine described above requires a somewhat more special setup for handling the bobbins than with the instant invention to assure that they enter the magazine at the proper angle to prevent jamming of said bobbins and to assure that each channel receives its full complement. The angle at which bobbins are loaded into the magazine of the present invention is unimportant for the tips thereof are permitted to swing freely as will be noted from the following description.

The magazine comprising the invention includes a base and a top portion that are interconnected by a plurality of juxtaposed and vertically extending bobbin butt re taining channels. These channels are formed in part for retaining the butts of the bobbins and to prevent axial movement of the bobbins.- The channels are further formed so as to restrain the bobbins adjacent their butt portions to prevent lateral movement thereof. This means of guiding and supporting the bobbins maintains them in substantial vertical alignment, and the greater portion of their length which extends outwardly from the channels requires no additional support or guiding means.

As with the aforementioned type of magazine, one or more magazines of the instant invention are adapted to assemble directly above the conveyor means which carries the bobbins to the donning mechanism.

The conveyor means is in belt form and comprises a plurality of interconnected link members with provisions in each link member for receiving and supporting an empty bobbin. The bobbins carried by the magazine are oriented and positioned in such a manner that they readily drop into the link members as the conveyor belt passes beneath said magazine and where a bobbin is present in a link member it restricts discharge of another bobbin from said magazine. This manner of discharging the bobbins from the magazine will exhaust the supply of bobbins from the first magazine of a particular group of two or more before taking bobbins from the second magazine and so on.

The invention will be described in further detail in the following disclosure wherein refernce is made to the accompanying figures of drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a donning and dofiing unit showing the bobbin magazine according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the magazine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the bobbin magazine as seen looking from the opposite side thereof.

Now referring to the figures of drawings, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a portion of a combined donning and dofiing unit which includes a carriage 10 having opposed side walls 11 and 12 which extend upwardly from and along the length of said carriage.

A bobbin conveying means comprises a pair of link type belts 13 and 14 mounted on and movable lengthwise of the carriage 10. The belt members being made up of interconnected link members are formed in such a manner as to provide sockets 15 and 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) that are adapted to receive and hold bobbins and to convey them to a position (not shown) where they are presented to the donning mechanism. These belts 13 and 14 move simultaneously and are driven in such a manner that the sockets 15 of belt 13 are always in alignment with sockets 16 of belt 14. 7

As shown and described in copending application Serial No. 344,050, filed February 11, 1964, a plurality of spaced grid members 17 are superimposed above the link belts 13 and 14 and serve as a means for guiding the bobbins into their particular sockets of the conveyor belts as they are discharged from the magazine.

The magazine according to the instant invention includes a base portion 18 and a top portion 19. The base and top portions are interconnected by a plurality of juxtaposed and vertically extending bobbin butt retaining channels generally indicated by numeral 20. These channels are generally U-shaped as illustrated in the plan view of FIG. 2 and are adapted to carry a plurality of vertically aligned filling bobbins 21 therein. To simplify the showing of the bobbins 21, they have been illustrated extending outwardly from only a single channel. The outwardly extending leg portions 22 of the individual channel members are provided with centrally disposed and inwardly directed corrugations 23 which are formed along the entire length of the channels. These corrugations extend into close proximity with that portion of the bobbins immediately adjacent to their butts and serve to retain the bobbins within the channels as well as to prevent them from moving axially. These leg portions 22 terminate in the form of inwardly directed flanges 24 which extend into close proximity with the barrel portion of the bobbins a distance from the butts thereof approximately equivalent to the length of said butts. Flanges 24 assist in keeping the bobbins 21 in vertical alignment by preventing lateral movement of their barrel portions.

The top of the magazine is provided with a fixedly positioned retaining plate 25 which extends the length of the magazine and covers substantially that portion of the channels adapted to hold the butts of the bobbins. This plate serves to retain the butts of the bobbins in their respective channels during their loading. When bobbins are loaded into the magazine, the latter is.positioned on a slight angle to the horizontal, that is to say, on the loading frame the top of the magazine is set lower than the bottom. The bobbin loader feeds a predetermined number of oriented filling bobbins into the channels of the magazine, and as the bobbins enter the channels they slide toward the top and are retained therein by plate 25. When the magazine has received its full complement of bobbins, a slidable bobbin control means forming a part of the base 18 is moved to a position which obstructs the openings in the bottom of the channels to prevent the discharge of said bobbins therefrom. The magazine can then be removed from the loading frame and is ready to be positioned on the aforementioned donning and dofiing unit. T o facilitate the moving of the magazine, the top portion 19 is provided with a centrally disposed and up wardly directed handle 26 which is attached to said top portion by means of cap screws 27.

Now referring to the slidable bobbin control means, the base 18 is provided with a row of horizontally disposed slots 28 which extend along the length of said base. The number of slots 28 equal the number of channels 20 and are open into the latter. having a centrally disposed and upwardly directed lever 30 attaches to the base 18 and overlies the row of horizontally disposed slots 28. The upper portion of the plate member 29 is provided adjacent each end with a horizontally extended slot 32 (FIG. 3) through which the shank portions of cap screws 33 are adapted to pass. The threaded portions of these cap screws assemble in tapped holes provided in the base 18 and the heads thereof hold the plate member 29 against the base 18 and permit it to be slid horizontally within the limits of the slots 32. The lower portion of the plate member 29 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending pins 34 (FIG. 2) which are disposed in a horizontal row and spaced to align with the slots 28 in the base 18. These pins pass through their respective slot 28 and protrude into the channel 28 with which they are aligned. All of the pins 34 are slidable simultaneously within the limits of slots 28 by simply moving the slidable plate member 29 from one extreme position to the other. In one extreme position that portion of the pins 34 which protrudes into the channels are in a generally centralized portion (FIG. 2) which obstructs the openings into the channels and serves as a means for retaining the bobbins 21 therein. plate member 29 is slid to its other extreme position (not shown), the pins come into contact with the sides of their respective channels and provide sufiicient clearance for the bobbins to be discharged therefrom.

The bottom of the magazine is also provided with laterally extending support members 35 and 36 which permit said magazine to set in a generally upright position while waiting to be placed in operating position on the donning and doffing unit or during storage of the same.

A slidable plate member 29 When the 1 The means utilized to support the bobbin magazine above the carriage 10 of the donning and dofling unit includes a horizontally extending bracket member 37 disposed above and in spaced relation to said carriage. This bracket is positioned above the carriage by means of a supporting leg 38. The upper end of leg 38 assembles to the end of the bracket by means of a bolt39 and the lower end thereof attaches to the inner side of the carriages end plate 40 as at 41.

A guide bracket 42 assembles in a similar manner to the end plate 40 as at 43 and extending angularly upward, the top portion thereof is attached to the supporting leg 38 just below the attachment point of the bracket member 37 and serves to maintain a rigid positioning of said bracket member 37. The opposite end of bracket member 37 is not shown, but is supported in a similar manner.

A plurality of spring biased retaining blocks generally indicated by numeral 43 are attached to the underside of bracket member 37 and are utilized to maintain the magazines in a vertical position on the donning and doffing unit. These blocks include leaf type springs 44 one end of which is attached to the upper surface of said blocks by means of cap screws 45 and the opposite end of said springs are attached to the underside of bracket member 37 by any suitable means such as rivets 46 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The blocks themselves are provided with grooves 47 which are adapted to receive and hold the upper edge of the magazines top portion 19. The base portion 18 of the magazine is formed to fit on the upper surface of side wall 12 of the carriage 10 and is retained there by means of a clamping bar 48 that extends a substantial distance along the upper and outer surface of said side wall 12.

In operation, a magazine with a full complement of empty filling bobbins is placed in operating position by first setting the base portion thereof in position on the upper surface of side wall 12 where it is firmly held by the clamping bar 48. The top portion of the magazine is then pushed to a position which causes the grooves 47 of the spring biased retaining blocks 43 to snap into position to maintain said magazine in a vertical position. The slidable plate member 29 is then slid to that position which allows the lowermost bobbins being carried by the magazine to drop into the sockets 15 and 16 of the link type conveyor belts 13 and 14.

When a bobbin is present in the sockets of the conveyor chain, it restricts discharge of another bobbin until said conveyor chain has moved a sufficient distance to position the next empty set of sockets below and in alignment with a section of bobbins being carried by the magazine.

While one embodiment of theinvention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A bobbin magazine adapted to retain a plurality of aligned filling bobbins therein having a base portion and a top portion, means interconnecting said base and top portions defining a plurality of juxtaposed and vertically extending bobbin butt retaining and guiding channels, said channels having a first restraining portion formed to extend into close proximity with that portion of the bobbin immediately adjacent to the butt to prevent axial movement of the bobbins, a second restraining portion associated with said first restraining portion and formed to extend into close proximity to that portion of the bobbin adjacent that surface adapted to be restrained by said first.

restraining portion, thereby causing the bobbins to remain in substantial vertical alignment and unsupported and completely exposed outwardly of said magazine for a.

greater portion of their length, said base portion being provided with integrally formed aligned and outwardly directed support members disposed at each side thereof, said base including a plurality of aligned slots extending along the length thereof, said slots being open into and equal in number to said channels, selectively and horizontally slidable bobbin control means forming a part of said base portion having individual laterally extending pin members extending through each said slots and into each said channels, said pins being movable simultaneously in a lateral direction by said control means from a first position for supporting the bobbins in said channels to a second position to permit their discharge therefrom.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first restraining portion comprises opposed and inwardly directed corrugations extending the length of said channels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. J. PETRAKES, Assisiant Examiner. 

1. A BOBBIN MAGAZINE ADAPTED TO RETAIN A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED FILLING BOBBINS THEREIN HAVING A BASE PORTION AND A TOP PORTION, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID BASE AND TOP PORTIONS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING BOBBIN BUTT RETAINING AND GUIDING CHANNELS, SAID CHANNELS HAVING A FIRST RESTRAINING PORTION FORMED TO EXTEND INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THAT PORTION OF THE BOBBIN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE BUTT TO PREVENT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE BOBBINS, A SECOND RESTRAINING PORTION ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST RESTRAINING PORTION AND FORMED TO EXTEND INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THAT PORTION OF THE BOBBIN ADJACENT THAT SURFACE ADAPTED TO BE RESTRAINED BY SAID FIRST RESTRAINING PORTION, THEREBY CAUSING THE BOBBINS TO REMAIN IN SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENT AND UNSUPPORTED AND COMPLETELY EXPOSED OUTWARDLY OF SAID MAGAZINE FOR A GREATER PORTION OF THEIR LENGTH, SAID BASE PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED ALIGNED AND OUTWARDLY DIRECTED SUPPORT MEMBERS DISPOSED AT EACH SIDE THEREOF, SAID BASE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED SLOTS EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID SLOTS BEING OPEN INTO AND EQUAL IN NUMBER TO SAID CHANNELS, SELECTIVELY AND HORIZONTALLY SLIDABLE BOBBIN CONTROL MEANS FORMING A PART OF SAID BASE PORTION HAVING INDIVIDUAL LATERALLY EXTENDING PIN 